Page 51 of Highlander's Rebellious Affair
“There is somethin’ I didn’t tell ye,” Ian said and turned to his sister. “I found the Treasure of Galloway.”
Her eyes widened, and he continued in a low voice before she could say anything. “I am nay at liberty to say it here, but I figured it out and should have told ye sooner, I am sorry I didnae. I just never found the right time.”
“Do ye think Lyall kens of this treasure?”
“I dinnae think he does,” he said. “His men are still searchin’ the mountains.”
They fell silent for a moment, and he tuned out Lyall’s words. Just then Lyall’s general exited Lyall’s hut and approached them. “Ian,” he called, and Ian turned to him.
“How is the Laird?” Ian asked.
“I ken ye have something to do with what happened last night,” he said through clenched jaws. Ian had always admired the man, he was a skilled warrior, and he served Lyall’s battle needs very well, but when he became Laird by right, he planned to strip him of that title and punish him for all his crimes.
“The Laird tried to kill me last night… I believe we both have much to discuss once he awakens,” Ian replied.
“He shows no signs of getting’ better, and even the healer is confused.”
“It just happens that I have a healer who would heal him properly and he wouldnae have to lose his life.”
“Why should we trust ye?”
“Ye shouldnae,” Ian said. “I wouldnae trust ye if it were me, but ye dinnae have any other option if ye want yer Laird to live.”
The man hesitated, and Ian waited for his response. Without Lyall to give orders, the Clan was vulnerable. The general understood that fact, so Ian knew his offer would be hard to refuse.
“Where is this healer of yers?”
Ian cleared his throat. “In the Castle… she can treat him the moment we return to the Castle.”
The general cocked a brow, and Ian added, “I am the adviser, and second in command, so I give the orders now and ye obey them. Let the other Lairds ken that this huntin’ trip is over.”
When the general left them, Rhea chuckled behind him. “That was brilliant, ye sounded like a Laird,” she said and giggled. Ian smiled at her, and she patted his shoulder. “I should get ready to ride back home.”
“This will be over soon,” Ian said to her, and gave her a reassuring smile. His sister had been his biggest supporter from the beginning, and soon the fight would be over. He hoped she met someone she could fall in love with soon, someone she could look forward to spending the rest of her life with, like he did with Hope.
He watched her walk away, and more of Lyall’s words flashed in his mind.Ye are just like yer faither, weak and soft. There is nay way ye would ever be able to control the men of Galloway like I have, because I ken what lies in the hearts of men, and ye dinnae.
Ian chose to believe in the good in men and overlook the evil most times. The difference between him and his uncle was that he chose not to exploit people’s weakness for his selfish reasons, and he was surrounded by people who were not just loyal, but people who loved him.
It was something Lyall would never have. He reached for the dirk in his kilt, and he took it out, and stroked it. Now that he had proof that Lyall had killed his father, he couldn’t wait till the day he would take the Lairdship from him. After years of scheming and failing, the time was finally so close, and Ian could almost smell his victory.
All he needed to do now was save Lyall’s life one last time before his life ceased to matter to him. Ian hoped his father watching him now would be proud.
I will get ye justice, Faither, I hope ye are proud of me.
He turned and walked back to his hut, and when he walked in, he saw Hope naked, trying to change into another dress. She smiled, and his arousal stirred immediately, just from looking at her standing half way across the room.
“We’re goin’ back home,” he announced, and her smile widened.
“That is good news, I hated it here already.”
Ian closed the gap between them, and took her into his arms. As his hands trailed a path down her body, he plastered his lips on hers, and forgot about everything else but her. He indulged in their shared passion for a short time, all the while wishing it won’t be over soon.
Hope clung to him as he made love to her, and soon it was time for them to leave. When they rode back to the Castle, it was already dusk, but Orlaith had to get to work, and Ian escorted her to Lyall’s wing of the Castle and made sure she got into his chamber safe.
37
When Orlaith returned in the early hours of the next morning, Ian and Hope rushed to her, and took her into her chamber, shutting the door behind them gently.
